What is the Gospel and what does it do?

1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB)

The Apostle Paul defined the gospel for us throughout his writings in the New Testament. In these dark spiritual times in which people believe their opinions and feelings are consistent with “truth” it is vital that we know God’s truth and make it known to all who will hear. I would like to start in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. I placed vv1-2 at the top of this post. In v1 he tells us that he is going to define the Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον) as a process. In this process, the Gospel must be proclaimed (εὐηγγελισάμην) and through this some who hear it will receive it and it is their very foundation. I pray that you noticed the similarities between the two Greek words above. The word εὐαγγέλιον is Greek for “a good message” or “the good news.” The word εὐηγγελισάμην literally means “announce good news.” It is the word from which we get our English word “evangelize.” Notice also that those who hear the good news and are saved by it also stand (ἑστήκατε) within it because it is their foundation. This Greek word means “you stand” They abide in the covenant of the Gospel because it is now their foundation.

The Gospel is that which has the power to save us (σῴζεσθε). It needs to be held fast (κατέχετε) not changed. The picture here is that those who believe the Gospel are not only changed by it, it becomes their foundation, and they assume control of it by holding it fast and never allowing it to be changed by false teachers because this is what Paul preached to them (εὐηγγελισάμην) and it was through this process that these results came to bear among the Corinthians. The last part of v2 is the contrast. He tells us that if we allow the Gospel to be altered to the point that we abandon the truth (unless we have believed in vain εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε). If the Gospel is abandoned like this then all future work will be in vain. These two verses define the process of the Gospel. Now let’s look at the content.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1 Corinthians 15:3-10 NASB)

In v3 Paul reiterates that the Gospel needed to be proclaimed, and he did it. The Gospel is the most important thing and what he proclaimed was not changed from what he had received. In other words, the Gospel Paul preached was the same Gospel that had saved him. Now he tells us what the Gospel is.

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3)

he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4)

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:5) Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:6) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. (1 Corinthians 15:7) Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:8)

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1 Corinthians 15:9)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 )

In these five main points of Paul’s Gospel definition we see that Christ’s death was a propitionary sacrifice (the doctrine of Penal Substitution) to pay sin’s penalty, which is exactly what the Bible says is needed. Our Lord really did bodily die. It was not figurative. However, He did not stay dead, but was resurrected and is alive now. He did not swoon on the Cross and revive in the tomb. He died and was raised from the dead, which is exactly what the Bible prophesied. His appearing to the apostles and others was convincing proof of that reality. Notice that he appeared to others outside of the inner circle including more than 500 brothers at one time. The way Paul wrote this, he is suggesting to the Corinthians that if they have doubts about the veracity of the Gospel, they could go check with those who are still alive who witnessed it.

Paul then comes to his own conversion. Even though the Lord was raised and ascended before Paul’s conversion, Paul proclaims that he too saw Jesus appear to him. Notice that Paul also proclaimed that he was totally unworthy of this. He had no merit for the gift of salvation. In fact, like all of us who are in Christ, we deserve the opposite, but instead, we are given grace. However, by God’s grace we are all changed and Paul uses himself as an example. True salvation is eternally, irrevocably, life-changing. It changes our desires, making us different. This is not according to self will or self-strength, but by God’s power.

That is the content of Paul’s description of what the Gospel is. Then in v11 He returns back to the process.

11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (1 Corinthians 15:11 NASB)

The Gospel is as Paul defined it, but it is also a process that works a specific way. It is preached and those who hear and believe are saved. In Romans 1:1-5 we have a more encapsulated explanation of the Gospel.

1 Paul, a bond- servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7 NASB)

This is a summary of the two-stage life of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first stage leads up to His death on the Cross then the second stage is a second life when He was raised up in glory by God’s Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God’s promised Messiah who was risen from the dead. Just as Romans 1:1-5 summarizes the content of the Gospel we find the effect of believing the Gospel summarized in Romans 1:16-17.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “ But the righteous man shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17 NASB)

The Emergents and Seeker Sensitives and all those who preach a diluted or changed gospel have violated Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 in that they have edited or changed it beyond all recognition. When they do that they remove it from the power that is inherent in the Gospel preached by one who has believed and been changed by it. He will not be about finding peace between Christians and those of other religions. He will not be about remaking the earth or trying to make the world a better place temporally. No, He or she will be all about not being ashamed of the real and unchanged Gospel for it and it alone is God’s plan for saving His people. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. For in it alone is the righteousness of God revealed from faith for faith. Those who believe and are changed by the Gospel according to the will of God will be declared righteous as they are justified by faith. They will then live by this faith just as the Corinthians did in embracing and abiding in it as their foundation.

The Gospel is defined very well for us in God’s Word. It is the one and only way God has set up to save His people. If it is messed with or edited in any way then it is no longer the Gospel. However, the false versions of the gospel can be used by those pushing them to fool untold numbers of people to believe their lies and follow another Jesus proclaiming another gospel. This was going on in the 1st Century and is most certainly going on in our time. Just because people make professions of faith that they are Christians does not mean they are. Only those who have heard and believed the real Gospel which is all about the real Jesus Christ are truly saved.

Therefore, I urge you brothers through the compassions of God to present your bodies as living, holy sacrifices, well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. (Colossians 1:24-26 ESV)

The way of escape

"To believe that He will preserve us is, indeed, a means of preservation. God will certainly preserve us, and make a way of escape for us out of the temptation, should we fall. We are to pray for what God has already promised. Our requests are to be regulated by His promises and commands. Faith embraces the promises and so finds relief." - John Owen

How to be free from bondage to our flesh and temptation

"If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: 'God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled.' When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage." - John Owen

Meta

About me

My name is Mike Ratliff. I am a δοῦλος (slave) of the Κύριον ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστόν (Lord Jesus Christ.) I have been a Bible teacher since the late 1980's. I am currently learning Koine Greek, which I began in 1992 and will continue to do so until the Lord takes me home. I am Reformed in my theology because I recognize that God is Sovereign over all things. I write these posts as God directs. I am also part of the discernment team at Christian Research Network.

OTHERS MAY, YOU CANNOT

by G. D. Watson

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.

God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.